The elastic property of polyvinyl alcohol gel with boric acid as a crosslinking agent

The elastomers of polyvinyl. alcohol gel were made from the polyvinyl alcoh ol polymer, with boric acid added as a crosslinking agent, in the mixed sol vent of dimethyl sulfoxide and water. From the experimental results, the vi scosity of polyvinyl alcohol solution is found to increase not only with an increment of boric acid content, but also with the temperature in the rang e of 70 degrees C similar to 100 degrees C, although the viscosity is decre ased in the range of 30 degrees C similar to 70 degrees C. Moreover, the mo lecular mass between junctions of polyvinyl alcohol gel is calculated from the rubber elastic theory and found to be decreased with the increment of b oric acid content. We also evaluated the values of Young's modulus of polyv inyl alcohol gel, E, E*, and the elastic parameters C-1 and C-2 of the Moon ey-Rivlin equation, according to Hook's law and theory of rubber elasticity . Based on these, the polyvinyl alcohol gel behaves as a goad rubberlike el astic property. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.